Ice making apparatus



April 10, 1962 A. MATESKI 3,028,733

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed OCT,- 51, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LANTON MATESKI ATTO RN EY April 10, 1962 A. MATESKI ICE MAKING APPARATUS4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 51, 1960 FIG.3

Lll'l T T T FIG. 5

INVENTOR. ANTON MATES Kl ATTORNEY April 1962 A. MATESKI 3,028,733

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 31, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ANTON MATESKIATTORN EY April 10, 1962 A MATESKI 3,028,733

ICE MA-KING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1960 4 Sheets-$heet 4 FIG. II FIG.12

31A $129.2 R h 6O -L{:}1| 28.| 82 L 4 INVENTOR. ,2 ANTON MATESKI BY f 37W /444M/ L ATTORNEY United States 3,028,733 Patented Apr. 10, 1962 Free3,028,733 ICE MAKING APPARATUS Anton Matcski, La Grange, Ill., assignorto General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 31,196i), Ser. No. 66,053 13 @laims. (Cl. 62-435) This invention relates toapparatus for making small blocks of ice in a mold in heat exchangerelation to the evaporator of a refrigerator and for automaticallyharvesting said blocks; and in particular the invention relates toimproved mechanism for separating the ice blocks from the tray and thedividers which define the small molds in which the ice is made.

Although not limited thereto, the presently preferred embodiment hasbeen designed to meet the particular requirements of the domesticrefrigerator, that is to say, it has been designed for operation byusers who are completely unskilled in mechanics, and therefore, requiresa mechanisms which will have minimum service requirements. Accordingly,the ice making apparatus is essentially directed to a mechanicallysimple, yet positive means for assuring the separation of the ice blocksfrom the tray and the dividers, and the positive ejection of the iceinto a storage receptacle.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide means to effect therelease of the ice from the tray and from the dividers sequentially, andin a preferred form, without the necessity of thawing the ice blocks,whereupon it is not required to deposit the ice on a drainage shelf orto hold the ice temporarily in a freezing atmosphere before depositingit in a storage bin.

In a presently preferred form of the invention, this objective isaccomplished by using a freezing pan of semicircular cross section incombination with a plurality of flexible metal circular dividers whichtransversely divide the tray into individual molds. The dividers arefixed to a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally of the tray. A drivemotor is coupled to the shaft by a torsion spring coupling whichcomprises a force accumulator permitting rotation of the motor shafteven though adhesion of the ice to the tray and to the dividers preventsrotation of the shaft. The tray is mounted so that it may rotaterelative to the shaft. Specifically, the mounting of the tray relativeto a heat exchange plate is by means of a flexible extension of a sidewall of the tray. When the motor is triggered into operation by athermostat or equivalent means sensing the completion of a freezingcycle the first action of the motor applies its effort to the oppositeside wall of the tray to move the tray away from the ice so as to breakthe adhesion between the tray and the ice. At the commencement of thisaction the motor shaft has been locked by the ice against rotation andthe torsion spring coupling is thereupon accumulating force and, ofcourse, exerting a constantly increasing torque on the shaft to whichthe dividers are fastened. The forces of adhesion are, therefore,subject to a shear effort exerted by the coupling and a straightphysical separation exerted by the motor against the tray itself. Thiscombination of forces insures the complete separation of the ice fromthe tray. I have found that it does not necessarily cause the release ofthe ice from the dividers. At this time, however, the shaft is free torotate and at the completion of approximately one-half of a revolutionof the drive shaft, the ice blocks have been removed from the tray andare in an inverted position. To effect the separation of the ice fromthe dividers, I provide each of the dividers with a camming memberengageable with rigid abutments fixed relative to the tray. As thesecamming means encounter the abutments, the flexible dividers are bent ina direction longitudinally of the tray. This very effectively separatesthe dividers from the ice. During the camming action the rotation of theshaft lags behind that of the motor shaft whereupon the torsion couplingonce again accumulates force which becomes suddenly available after thecamming devices pass the ahutments. The sudden rotation of the shaft andthe dividers causes an outward movement of the ice. Supplementary meansin the form of sweep fingers engage the bottom of the ice blocks as theshaft rotation continues so as to finalize the separation of any me notreleased from the dividers during the freezing operation.

Means are provided to interrupt the rotation of the motor after theshaft has completed one full revolution whereupon a conventional watervalve fills the tray for the next freezing cycle. Means are provided tosense the accumulation of ice within the receptacle and to interruptmotor operation when the receptacle becomes filled to capacity.

Other features and advantages will be understood by the followingdetailed description of the presently pre: ferred embodiment abovedescribed, read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of the ice making apparatus applied to arefrigerated wall of a domestic refrigerator showing in partiallybroken-away elevation the storage receptacle containing a quantity ofice blocks;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

MG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are respectively end elevations in section pursuant tothe reference arrows in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an and elevation to show a flexible divider and its relationto the tray;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on lines 88 of FIG. 3,illustrating the torsion spring coupling between the motor shaft and theejector shaft;

FIGS, 9, 10, ll, 12, and 13 show stations in the separation of the iceblocks from the tray and the ultimate ejection of the ice into thestorage receptacle;

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are fragmentary perspective views of a divider toshow its action as the cam element thereof engages with and separatesfrom the fixed abutment structure;

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on lines 1717 of FIG. 8showing another view of the torsion spring coupling;

FIG. 18 is a schematic control diagram;

FIG. 19 is a cam diagram showing by solid lines the number of angulardegrees during which the cams close their associated switches; and

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary side elevation showing an arrangement for thefilling mechanism.

In FIG. 1, the ice maker l'is shown in heat exchange relation with anevaporator 2 of a conventional refrigera-. tor in which tubing 2.1comprises a portion of the compression-condensation-evaporationrefrigerating system a (not shown). The evaporator may constitute a partof the cooling system of a chamber maintained at a temperature of from 0to 5 F. It is contemplated that the bin or receptacle R into which theice is deposited as later described is completely independent of the icemaking apparatus per se and as such will be removablysupported on asuitable tray or shelf in the chamber, whereby the stored ice ismaintained in a dry condition.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus includes a structural frame 3having a transverse end member 4,

longitudinal side rails 4.1 and 4.2 and a longitudinal member 5. Theside rails and the member 5 are secured to or integral with the backplate 6. Means are therebywhich extends about the side rail 4.2 and issuitably secured thereto. Rivets or the like (not shown) extend throughrail 4.2 and wall into the evaporator wall plates 12 and 14, whichprovide a rigid support. The wall 10 at its juncture 15 with the body ofthe tray provides an elongated resilient hinge member about which thetray may be rotated relative to the supporting structure 3 as laterdescribed. The opposite longitudinal wall of the tray is strengthened byforming it about a rod 16. Said rod extends beyond the tray, as shown inFIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 the tray is divided into a plurality ofcompartments by means of thin, flexible, circular dividers 17 havingsuitable hub portions 17.1 fixed to a shaft 18 extending axially of thetray. Preferably, the axis of shaft 18 corresponds with the axis of thesemicircular portion of the tray itself. The shaft 18 is journalled atone end in a bearing 19 formed in the end structure of the frame 3 andat its other end is fixed to a socketed shaft 20 comprising the drivenelement of a torsion spring coupling 21 (see FIG. 8). The frame 3supports a rigid comb-like structure 22 extending transversely above thetray. The structure 22 comprises a series of fingers 23 which straddlethe respective dividers 17. As best shown in FIG. 7, the comb extendsabout the side rail 4.1, to which it is rigidly secured by machinescrews. Certain ones of the straddling fingers provide rigid abutmentsagainst which bear cam buttons 24 of the dividers to facilitate the iceejection operation later described. Although the dividers 17 aredesirably of thin, mirror-finish stainless steel and are thereforeinherently flexible and nonadherent to ice, it is advantageous toenhance their flexibility by striking out a V-shaped slot 25, thuslocating the camming button 24 on a portion of the divider 17 whichoffers little resistance to fiexure in a direction longitudinally of theshaft 18. Further, each of the dividers 17 has a notch 26 affordingwater communication from one to the next of the compartments to insurethe proper filling of the compartments from a single source of waterdischarge shown as a tube 29 supplied from a normally closed solenoidvalve 29.1, see FIG. 20. The valve is preferably mounted on a rear wallof the refrigerator cabinet C. With further reference to theconstruction of the comb 22 and its fingers 23 it is noted from FIG. 3that they are arranged to provide spaces through which may sweepejection fingers 27 secured to the divider hubs for rotation therewith.A thermostat 28 fixed to the bottom of the tray in good heat transferrelation therewith is adjusted so that at a temperature sufficiently lowto insure that water in all of the compartments has been solidlyfrozen-for example, 15 F. the thermostat will close its normally opencircuit so as to institute the ejection operation. A heating element28.1, connected into the control circuit by a flexible conductor 28.2,increases the thermostat temperature to reopen its contacts at 23 :F.Actuating mechanism 8 is advantageously housed within a casing 30,secured to the end plate 6. It comprises a motor 31 having appropriategearing (not shown) whereby the output shaft 32 of the motor willdevelop very substantial torque. The motor is supported on a U-shapedframe 33 housing the control cams 34 and 35 which cooperate respectivelywith switch elements 36 and 37, and a cam 3-8 which is grooved toaccommodate the end of the sensing rod 4-3 which is pivotally mounted inthe rear wall 6 of the frame 3 as appears in FIGS. 2 and 7. The sensingrod 49 is arranged to activate a switch 41 to open the motor circuitwhen there is a sufficient accumulation of ice in the receptacle R.

Further, the motor shaft 32 enters and is secured to the socketed shaft42 of the coupling mechanism 21, said mechanism including a spiralspring 43 having an upstanding tab 44 extending through a slot 45 in thehub portion 46 of the shaft 29. At its other end spring 43 is fixedWithin a suitable socket 47 formed in the shaft 42 as appears in FIGS. 8and 17. It will be noted that the hub 46 of shaft 20 and hub 48 of shaft42 interfit to provide a housing for the spring 43.

The components of the torsion coupling 21 are so arranged that the hubportion 48 of the shaft 42 may rotate slightly more than 45 relative tothe hub 44 of the shaft 20 before the tab end of the spring 43 will beengaged by the hub 48, following which the full torque of shaft 42 willbe transmitted to the shaft 20.

As best appears in FIGS. 4 and 8 wall means projecting from the rearframe plate 6 provide a housing 50 accommodating a cam 51 suitably fixedon shaft portion 42 for rotation therewith and a cam follower 52pivotally mounted to the front wall 54 of the housing. The pivot pin 55may, in fact, extend between the front housing wall and the plate 6 ifadditional support is needed for the cam action. In either situation thecam may be IO' tatably mounted on the pivot pin by conventional meanssuch as a snap ring 56 or equivalent. The cam follower is illustrativelyof the Scotch yoke type within which the cam operates. The forked end 57straddles the bar 16 and during one complete rotation of shaft 42 thebar will be moved to the lower position indicated in FIG. 4 and willthen be restored to the home position illustrated in full line. Thisaction is eliective to rotate the entire tray downwardly about its hingeportion 15 and then to restore the tray to its normal horizontalposition for the receipt of a new water supply.

The operation of the ice maker can best be understood by reference tothe circuit diagram of FIG. 18, the cam chart of FIG. 19, and thediagrammatic views of the divider operation comprising FIGS. 7 through16.

It will be assumed that the normally open thermostat 28 has sensed thatthe water within the tray has frozen completely. This situation would berepresented by a tray surface temperature of the order of 18 F., atwhich temperature the thermostat closes its contacts. It will also beassumed that the receptacle R is sufficiently empty of ice to positionthe load sensing rod 40 as represented by FIG. 5 in which the actuator40.1 of the bar is positioned relative to the switch 41 to cause saidswitch to assume its normally closed position. It will be noted fromFIG. 5 that the end of the bar 40 occupies the lowest portion of the cam38 whereby the bar 40 assumes its position in which the switch is closedas aforesaid.

The rotational cycle of the motor is arranged so that it terminates inthe FIG. 9 position, in which each of the dividers 17 is in a rotationalposition presenting its cam button 24 above the surface of the ice.Similarly, the sweep arms 27 are above the ice but below the fingers 23of the comb 22.

As appears from the circuit diagram the thermostat will initiate theoperation of the motor 31 by way of the obvious circuit. Immediately,the heater 28.1 of the thermostat is energized and within the first 60degrees of rotation of the motor shaft the thermostat is restored toopen circuit condition. At approximately 45 degrees of rotation,however, cam 35 closes the normally open motor switch 37 completing aparallel path for motor operation. During the first portion of motoroperation. representing approximately 45 degrees thereof, the ice Willbe so securely adhered to the tray itself and to the individual dividers17 that the divider shaft 18 cannot rotate. This situation is permittedwithout imposing a severe stalling load on the motor because of thespiral Spring clutch 21. In other words, although the shaft member 42 isrotating and thereby producing the steady rotation of cam 51 and theaction of cam follower 52, the ejector shaft 18 is stationary. Asaforesaid, the forked end 57 of the cam is urging the tray away from theice contained therein. The comparison of FIGS. 9 and 10 indicates thatthe result of this is to move the tray downwardly relative to the ice soas to break the adhesion with the ice. The coiling of spring 43 dun.

ing this portion of the operation does not seriously burden the motor,and a high proportion of its power is avail able for the tray movingoperation. As soon as the ice is separated from the tray the storedenergy of spring 43 causes a sharp rotation of the shaft 18 whereuponthe shaft 18 catches up with the motor shaft, so to speak, and duringthe next interval is rotating therewith. The dividers 17 shortly attainthe position of FIGS. 11 and 14 in which the ejection cams 24 engagewith the fingers 23 to produce the lateral flexing of the dividers 17illustrated in FIG. 15. The tray 7 remains disengaged from the ice. Theshaft 18 is prevented by the cam action from rotating at the rate ofspeed of the motor shaft 32 and clutch 21 again permits the motor shaftto run ahead of the ejector shaft. Again the coil spring 43 isaccumulating power and as the ejector cams pass below the fingers 23 asillustrated in FIG. 12, the sudden freedom causes the spring 43 torelease its energy and kick" the shaft 13 through an approximately 45degree angle to throw the ice-then released from the dividers-ov er thecomb 22 and into the receptacle R. It will be noted that the ejectionfingers 27 assist this forcible ejection of the ice from the tray. Inthe circumstance that the action of the ejector cams 24 and the flexingof the dividers 17 did not free ice from any particular divider, themechanical effort of the fingers 27 will move the ice against the comb22 and peel the ice from the divider. In any case the torsion clutch 21permits the shaft 18 to lag behind the motor shaft until the suddenrelease of restraint on the spring 43 causes the shaft 18 to restore tonormal relationship with the motor shaft, whereupon the respectiveshafts return the apparatus to the FIG. 9 position when at the end ofone complete revolution the switch 37 restores to its FIG. 6 position.

It will be observed from FIG. 13 that the tray has returned to homeposition at approximately the time the ejection of ice has beencompleted. However, the cam 34 controlling the operation of the watersolenoid switch 36 does not close its switch to energize the solenoidvalve coil 2&2 until approximately the last 45 degrees of rotation ofthe motor, thus insuring that ice has been fully ejected before water isintroduced into the tray. The tray is, of course, of relatively smallcapacity--for example, four ounces, and the use of a conventionalmetering device (not shown) in the solenoid valve will insure thatthroughout the range of water pressures normally encountered in domesticwater systems a complete filling of the tray will be accomplished withinthe time limit provided.

, Therefore, at the completion of one revolution of the motor shaft 32the thermostat 28 is in open circuit position and the motor switch 37and water switch 36 are open. As the motor circuit is broken so also isthe circuit for the thermostat heater 28.1. The heat content of thewater newly introduced into the pan 7 maintains the thermostat in opencircuit position, whereupon the apparatus is fully restored for its nextoperation.

In the circumstance that the ejection of ice into the receptacle Rraises the level of the ice to the extent that the load sensing bar 40is withheld from returning to the position at which the switch 41 couldreturn to its normally closed state, it is apparent that the closing ofthe thermostat switch would be ineffective to energize the motor, thuspreventing operationof the ice maker beyond the storage capacity of thereceptacle.

A second embodiment shown in outline in FIG. 20 effects the increase intemperature of the thermostat 28 by increasing the temperature of thetray 7 to just above the melting point of the ice in the tray. Theheating device for this function may comprise a conventional metallicsheathed resistance heater 60 permanently secured to the underside ofthe tray 7 adjacent the thermostat and connected by means of a flexiblelead 61 running along the underside of the frame member 5 to enter themotor compartment 30, for appropriate connection 6 into the electriccircuit as shown in FIG. 18. In FIG. 18 the heating element lead 61 willbe connected in the same manner as the lead 23.2 of the firstembodiment. The operational sequence will be substantially the same asshown in FIG. 19.

This second embodiment has a cost advantage over the first for thetemperature increase of the tray will free the ice from the tray bythawing, whereupon the carnming arrangement for physically separatingthe ice from the tray may be eliminated. However, the thawing operationwould not separate the ice blocks from the dividers for they wouldremain adhered thereto by the small bridges formed by the slots 25 andthe notches 26 if not by reason of the natural adhesion of the ice tothe dividers. It will be understood therefore, that the means forflexing the dividers Will be appropriate to the second embodiment andthat the use of the torsion spring coupling is also indicated. 7

It should be noted that although the embodiments are illustrated asmounted on a refrigerated surface, i.e., the evaporator wall plates 12and 14, these plates merely represent a convenient means for supportingthe tray in a refrigerated atmosphere or other environment conducive tothe rapid freezing of the water in the tray. The specific mounting meansare, therefore, intended to be illustrative and not restrictive.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be thepreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An ice making apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated trayhaving a water-receiving portion of substantially semicircular crosssection, means extending V longitudinally of said tray above the waterreceiving portion for mounting said tray in heat exchange relation to arefrigerated surface to provide heat flow thereto from the water contentof said tray, said mounting means including a resilient Wall portionproviding a hinge section about which the tray may be rotated, anejection shaft mounted for rotation relative to said tray, said shaftextending substantially coaxially with the water receiving portionthereof, a plurality of circular divider members of flexible materialfixed on said shaft and extending said motor for rotating said trayabout said hinge section.

to exert a separating efiort to disengage said tray from ice adherent tosaid dividers, means including said torsion spring for rotating saidejection shaft and divider members to lift ice from said tray, meansfixed relative to each said divider member to engage the cam portionthereof to flex each member for release of ice adhering thereto, meanseffective upon continuation of rotation of said members to move thereleased ice masses toward a receptacle external of said tray, and meansfor interrupting operation of said motor upon completion of onerevolution of said shaft.

2. An ice making apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated trayhaving a portion of substantially semicircular cross section toaccommodate water to be frozen, means for mounting said tray in arefrigerated environment to abstract heat from the water content of saidtray, said mounting means providing a hinge section about which the traymay be rotated about an axis substantially coincident with alongitudinal wall of said tray, an ejection shaft mounted for rotationrelative to said tray, said shaft extending substantially coaxially withthe water receiving portion thereof, a plurality of circular dividermembers of flexible material fixed on said shaft and extendingtransversely thereof to divide said tray into a plurality of freezingcompartments, said members having substantially the same diameter assaid tray, cam means on each of said members, a motor for rotating saidshaft, mechanism interposed between said motor and said shaft to providea power-accumulating lost motion driving connection between said motorand said shaft, means responsive to a. temperature representative of theformation of ice in the compartments of said tray to energize saidmotor, mechanism driven by said motor for rotating said tray about saidhinge section to separate said tray from ice adherent to said dividers,means including said lost motion mechanism for subsequently rotatingsaid ejection shaft and divider members to remove ice from said tray,means fixed relative to each said divider member to engage the camportion thereof to flex each member for release of ice adhering thereto,and means for interrupting operation of said motor upon completion of acomplete ice-ejection cycle.

3. An ice making apparatus comprising, in combination an elongated trayhaving a water-receiving portion of substantially semicircular crosssection, means extending longitudinally of said tray above the waterreceiving portion for mounting said tray in heat exchange relation to arefrigerated surface to provide heat flow thereto from the water contentof said tray, said mounting means including a resilient wall portionproviding a hinge section about which the tray may be rotated, anejection shaft mounted for rotation relative to said tray, said shaftextending substantially coaxially with the water receiving portionthereof, a plurality of divider members of flexible material fixed onsaid shaft and extending transversely thereof to divide said tray into aplurality of freezing compartments, said members having a substantialarea submerged in the water content of said tray, a motor for rotatingsaid shaft, a coupling interposed between said motor and said shaft toprovide a power-accumulating lost motion driving connection between saidmotor and said shaft, means responsive to the formation of ice in thecompartments of said tray to energize said motor, a lever pivotallymounted relative to said tray, means driven by said motor for rotatingsaid lever to exert an effort on said tray to rotate the same downwardlyaway from said ejection shaft, means including said coupling forrotating said ejection shaft and divider members to remove ice from saidtray, means fixed relative to each said divider member and engageabletherewith following the removal of the ice from the tray to flex eachmember for release of ice adhering thereto, means effective uponcontinuation of rotation of said ejection shaft to move the released icemasses toward a receptacle external of said tray, and means forinterrupting operation of said motor upon completion of the ice ejectionoperation.

4. An ice making apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated trayhaving a portion of substantially semicircular cross section to receivewater to be frozen, means extending longitudinally of said tray abovethe water receiving portion thereof for mounting said tray within arefrigerated environment to provide heat flow from the water content ofsaid tray, said mounting means including a hinge member about which thetray may be rotated on an axis displaced from the diametrical axis ofits water receiving portion, an ejection shaft mounted for rotationrelative to said tray, said shaft extending substantially coaxially withthe water receiving portion thereof, a plurality of circular dividermembers of flexible material fixed on said shaft and extendingtransversely thereof to divide said tray into a plurality of freezingcompartments, said members having substantially the same diameter assaid tray, cam means on each of said members adjacent the peripherythereof, a motor for rotating said shaft, a torsion spring interposedbetween said motor and said shaft to provide a power-accumulating lostmotion driving connection between said motor and said shaft, meansresponsive to the formation of ice in the compartments of said tray toenergize said motor, mechanism driven by said motor for rotating saidtray about said hinge member through an are less than 45 degrees and ina direction away from said ejection shaft to separate said tray from iceadherent to said dividers, means including said torsion spring forrotating said shaft and divider members to remove ice from said tray,means comprising rigid finger members fixed relative to each saiddivider member to be engaged by the cam portion thereof to flex eachmember for release of ice adhering thereto, means fixed to said ejectionshaft and extending radially thereof in parallelism with said dividermembers to engage released ice masses and move the same toward areceptacle external of said tray, and means for interrupting operationof said motor upon completion of a complete ice removal operation.

5. An ice making apparatus, comprising a tray of arcuate cross sectionto receive water to be frozen therein, a shaft mounted for rotationrelative to said tray and extending longitudinally thereof, a pluralityof thin, flexible, tray dividers individually fixed to said shaft forrotation therewith and extending transversely into and across said trayto subdivide the same into a plurality of compartments,- each saiddivider having a substantial area immersed in the water content of saidtray, means for supporting said tray in a refrigerated atmosphere toabstract heat from said water to freeze the same, means for displacingsaid tray relative to said dividers to break any adhesion between thetray and the ice therein, means for rotating said shaft and said dividermembers to invert immediately above said tray ice which may have adheredto said dividers, means individual to each said divider member to flexthe same in a direction longitudinally of said shaft following arotation of said shaft effecting a removal of ice from said tray wherebyto break the adhesion between ice and said dividers to release the icetherefrom, and sweep fingers fixed to said shaft and extending radiallytherefrom to sweep from said tray ice which may have disengaged fromsaid divider members prior to the flexing thereof.

6. An ice making apparatus, comprising a tray to re ceive water to befrozen therein, a shaft mounted for rotation relative to said tray andextending longitudinally thereabove, circular divider members of thin,flexible, metal fixed to said shaft coaxially therewith and extendingtransversely into and across said tray to subdivide the same into aplurality of compartments, each said divider member having a substantialarea immersed in the water content of said tray, said divider members,further, having a segmental portion of greater flexibility than theremaining portion, means in heat exchange relation with said tray toabstract heat from said water to freeze the same, means for rotatingsaid shaft through a complete revolution whereby said divider membersrotate ice from within said tray to a position immediately above saidtray during a first portion of said shaft rotation, and means individualto each said divider member to engage the segmental portion of greaterflexibility to distort the same relative to the remainder of saiddivider member during the further rotation of said shaft, whereby tobreak adhesion between ice and said divider members to release the icetherefrom.

7. Ice making apparatus according to claim 6, in which the segmentalportion of greater flexibility is adjacent the periphery of the dividermembers.

8. Ice making apparatus according to claim 6, in which the dividermember distortion means comprises an abutment disposed on said member inthe segmental portion of greater flexibility, and a member supported infixed relation to said tray and in the path of movement of said abutmentduring the rotation of said divider members.

9. An ice making apparatus, comprising a tray to receive water to befrozen therein, a shaft mounted for rotation relative to said tray andextending longitudinally thereof, circular members of thin sheet metalfixed to said shaft and extending transversely into and across said trayto subdivide the same into a plurality of compartments, each said memberhaving a substantial area immersed in the water content of said tray,said immersed area having a slot therethrough to make it more flexiblethan the remainder of the member, means in heat exchange relation wtihsaid tray to abstract heat from said water to freeze the same, means forrotating said shaft through a complete revolution whereby said dividermembers move ice adhering thereto into a position above said tray,camming means on each said member in the more flexible area thereof, andmeans comprising finger members fixed relative to said tray andextending thereabove in parallel spaced relation to said divider membersfor engagement with the respective camming means following apredetermined further rotation of said shaft, whereby to flex thedivider member to break the adhesion between ice and said dividermembers to release the ice therefrom.

10. Ice mfiing apparatus according to claim 9, in

which said slot is of arcuate form with the extremities thereofsubstantially straddling said shaft.

11. An ice making apparatus, comprising a tray to receive water to befrozen therein, an ejection shaft mounted for rotation relative to saidtray and extending longitudinally thereof, flexible members fixed tosaid ejection shaft and extending transversely into said tray tosubdivide the same into a plurality of compartments, each said memberhaving a substantial area immersed in the water content of said tray,means in heat exchange relation with said tray to abstract heat fromsaid water to freeze the same, means including a motor driven shaft forrotating said ejection shaft and said divider members through a completerevolution to bring. ice adhering thereto to a position externally ofsaid tray, means to slow the rotation of said ejection shaft relative tosaid motor shaft while distorting said divider members to break theadhesion of ice thereto, and means for thereafter effecting rotation ofsaid ejection shaft at a very rapid rate through a relatively short areof said rotation to expel the reshaft coaxial therewith and extendingtransversely of said tray to provide molds for producing individualmasses of ice, means for refrigerating said tray, means for mountingsaid tray for rotation relative to said grid structure, and ice ejectionmeans comprising a motor having a shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft forrotation therewith, a

cam follower in engaging relation to said cam, means for pivotallymounting said eam follower for rotation from and to a home positionduring a predetermined rotation of said cam, and means for mechanicallyrotating said tray from and to a home position by said cam followerduring the rotation thereof to effect a separation of said tray from iceadhering to said grid structure, and means for rotating said grid shaftand ice carried by the divider members thereof during and after saidtray rotation to eject ice masses from said tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,757,519 Sampson Aug. 7, 1956 2,757,520 Sampson Aug. 7,1956 2,941,379Nelson June 21, 1960 2,955,442 Loewenthal Oct. 11,1960 2,962,876 BakerDec. 6, 1960

